Stormy Cloud

Sprit of a Tree

I had a Tai-Chi class in this morning. People come to the class are mostly senior. I might be a younger one in the crowd. That's just my hopeful opinion. I am a clumsy senior for learning something new. I still have a problem remembering all the Tai-Chi movement after four months of learning. However, I have been doing this at home with YouTube video, too. Fact is it is much easier learning from video. It's explains each movement carefully and slowly. Only problem I found was, there were some different movement between class and YouTube. I suspect, even though basic movement is a same, there will be some differences among different groups. So, I decided to think that I am learning two type of Tai-Chi exercises. One is video and another one is at the class. Any way, this new hobby of mine would be my life long one.

Dancing Stream

It was a hottest day today for this year. It was 112 F in valley and down town 102 F. The day like this I didn't want to go out but I had some shopping to do. I wanted to get pencil lengthener for my sketch pencil, because I want to use it as much as possible. I don't want to waist every bit of it. I am looking for a good drawing pencil.

SG Sunset

Wow, It was hot day.
It was nice and cool in the morning when I went to a breakfast, but it was getting hot in the afternoon. So, I took an advantage of this hot weather, I did a laundry. I don't use a dryer any more, instead I use a drying pole in the back of my house.

Come to think of it, some watercolor artists like to paint clothes hung from a drying pole. I never paint it myself yet, but why not, I think I am going to try.

Cottage

The image above is a demo piece which I have painted at the watercolor class last Wednesday. Some students of my class thought the subject I have been choosing for the class is too much for them. Come to think of it, we have real beginners to advanced students in our class, it was reasonable comment to make. So, I chose easier subject this time. After all, I think it is good to use a simple example to explain the important elements of painting, such as composition, contrast and more.

San Gabriel Sunset

My new play toy is Google Translation.
I translated my Japanese blog "Choto Shinia chikku" to in English by the Google Translation. A result was very entertaining. I think translate a whole paragraph by computer is not realistic yet. May be it is impossible until computers get an emotion like a human.

Have a Good Dream

The net shopping is dangerous. A card number might have stolen. Some one might steal my identity and create a new credit card under my name. As result of that I will be saddled with huge debts. I got a such suspicious mind, I had been stayed away from net shopping for a long time. However, after I tried it once, I quickly found that the net shopping is so convenient and reasonable prices. I take advantage of the net shopping quite often in recent days.

Actually, I have been waiting to receive my new two purchases from two different stores. As you know, a happiness for senior is receiving a package. That why we order things we really don't need.

Rest

I have less than two weeks left to take in my art works into an exhibitions. I have two shows to enter at the end of the month. And take-in day of the shows are just one day apart. I have been painting new watercolors for the last five weeks or so, and I am not happy about what I have down so far. Hard part of watercolor is, if I made unhappy result I have to do it all over again. There is no way I can fix the watercolor painting. I feel watercolor is like a Japanese calligraphy. I paint same material hundred times and choose the best one from them.

I finished five paintings so far, but I want paint some more. I still have enough time for that.

Still-life with Pink Rose

After I enjoyed the conversation with John at the breakfast in Little Tokyo. We took a walk around downtown area. John told me that he has to pick his mother up at the Union station, and he has a lot of time to kill. So I offered to keep him company. Even though, I can't stay until noon but I can stay with him one more hour or so. When we come to near the third street tunnel, I realized that we were very close to little cable cars it called "Angel's Flight." It was about sixty maters or so, very short distance cable cars reach to a Banker Hills. The angel's flight is located right across from Central Market which a popular spot for tourists. I have living in Los Angeles for over thirty five years. However, I never tried the cable car before. So, I decided to take it.

It was quiet around the cable car area. But when we got to the entrance, A lot of people suddenly appeared and the little cable car was almost full. It was nice and short ride for three or four minutes. When we get top of the hill, we payed fifty cents at the booth.

Rhythm of Deap Sea

I have been painting large sized watercolors for last three weeks. I will have two art association show on next month. So, I need at least two new watercolor paintings for the show. When I paint watercolor in larger size, I have to change a painting technique. Because, water and paint react on the paper same way all the time no matter what size I paint. So, I have to paint differently by the size.

Ranch

I painted this watercolor a hundred years ago. That why color is faded away. I found this ranch at Carmel valley. As you know, Carmel is famous as an art colony. And located a little down south from San Francisco. Ranch is the one of most popular subjects for watercolor artists. So, I have an obligation to paint it.

Palm Springs Sunrise

I attended a reception of new exhibition "Invitational Artists Show" at San Gabriel Art Association Gallery. I was one of the artists, so I'd better go.

Poppies

I left Yosemite valley in the early Sunday morning. I felt very good, because I had a lot of students in my class and sold some artworks. I left early in the morning because I wanted take some pictures of sunrise at the entrance of the tunnel. I can see a panoramic valley scene from there. But it was a little disappointment. Because of a direction of sunrise, sunlight didn't hit the El Captain as I expected. I took some pictures anyway.

It took almost an hour to get a park exit from the Yosemite valley. When the sun rose higher, some times it got into my eyes directly and made me a blind for a moment. When it happened for the third time. I had a scary experience. I couldn't see anything front of me, I missed stop sign and drove though ten yard or so and I stopped. When I regained my vision I already passed the park exit. Then tall young mountain ranger came out from a hut and said "Did you missed the stop sign or were you speeding?" I said "No." "You mean neither." the ranger said. "I was momentary blinded by the sunlight." " Oh, I see. all right. do you have a pass." I showed the artist pass. That was all. He said, "you can go now. Drive carefully."

While I was driving the mountain road I thought about the incident. More I thought about it I felt more that I was lucky. If it was busy time I might hit a incoming car and got into serious accident. A guardian angel was watching me that what I felt. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Koi in Pink

When I arrived Yosemite Art Center. I was told by a manager of a gallery that the gallery is middle of fixing all the light inside. Also, she said "I don't know when an electrician finish this job." I was so disappointed it. Because, I want to exhibit my artwork as soon as possible. After all this is only a chance to make little money and cover expenses of this trip.

The electrician had finished the job third day into the week. I had a three more day to sell my art work. Fortunately, I sold my artwork well. Another successful week in Yosemite.

Bshop Creek

I have been doing Tai Chi last four months and I still don't know all the movement. However, I became much better to following others. Also, I am learning from a Tai-Chi video in YouTube now. It helps me a lot.

Montevideo

I arrived Yosemite National Park much earlier than check in time to my room. It was not a trouble but the trouble was the gallery where I exhibit my artwork during the week was under a construction of light fixtures. a manager of the gallery said "It might takes a couple of days or more to fix all the light of the gallery." I was disappointed to hear that, because this is very important part of the trip to Yosemite. Teaching watercolor class is totally volunteer work, I make money only if I sell my artworks. I couldn't do any thing about, I just hope for the best.

Maiko

The watercolor class at Yosemite Park was over. I had a great time there as usual. I am looking forward a next year already.